Former Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern is taking a prominent role a $30 million campaign to oppose Democratic-backed “card check” legislation that would eliminate the secret ballot process required to unionize workplaces.
The Employee Freedom Action Committee, will premiere its first major ad during the second presidential debate Tuesday evening to criticize the Democratic Party for supporting the legislation, titled “The Employee Free Choice Act.” It features Democratic heavyweight McGovern, who lectures his fellow party members for pushing the hurtful bill.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has promised to sign the legislation if he is elected president. He is a co-sponsor of the Senate “card check” bill that was narrowly defeated the bill in the summer of 2007, but if the Democrats gain more seats in November the bill's chances of passing increases.
In the ad McGovern says: “I’m concerned about a bill in Congress that would effectively eliminate an employee’s right to a private vote when deciding whether to join a union.
"It’s hard to believe that any politician would agree to a law denying millions of employees the right to a private vote. I have always been a champion of labor unions. But I fear that today’s union leaders are turning their backs on democratic workplace elections. I’ve listened to all their arguments and reviewed the facts on both sides. Quite simply, this proposed law cannot be justified. Working families deserve a voice and a private vote.”
The EFAC estimates Big Labor will spend more than $1 billion urging political candidates to push card check this year.